Pipistrel picks Honeywell Avionics for heavy lift UAV

  • April 14, 2021
  • William Payne

Pipistrel has selected Honeywell’s Attitude Heading Reference System and Air Data Module for its Nuuva V300 cargo UAV. The technologies provide navigation and motion-sensing data and will work in tandem with Honeywell’s Compact Fly-By-Wire system onboard the aircraft.

The AH-2000 Attitude Heading Reference System and Air Data Module (ADM) supply  motion data to all avionics systems and many mechanical systems, and are designed for use on urban air mobility vehicles, commercial aircraft, business jets and helicopters. 

Pipistrel’s Nuuva V300 is a long-range, large-capacity, autonomous UAV. It will take off and land vertically with battery power, does not require a runway and has lower operating costs than helicopters. It can carry loads up to 460 kilograms (around 1,000 pounds) for more than 300 kilometers (about 186 miles), and is designed for deliveries to areas traditionally accessible only by helicopter.

The AH-2000 uses Honeywell’s Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS)-based inertial sensors for aircraft attitude and velocity information. It provides safety-critical attitude and velocity data to drive the fly-by-wire flight control system and provides navigation data to the fly-by-wire guidance system. 

“Nuuva V300’s groundbreaking operational concept requires highly accurate, dependable and robust navigation sensors, and the AH-2000 and ADM are key enablers of this functionality,” said Tine Tomažič, chief technology officer, Pipistrel. “This technology allows us to deliver simple and intuitive mouse-click control to fly the vehicle, eliminating the need for operators to be trained with traditional piloting skills, which helps ensure rapid scale-up of operations for our customers.”

“Unmanned aircraft, especially those delivering packages, must be equipped with high-performing inertial systems to ensure fly-by-wire systems are provided the best possible information on location, speed and position,” said Matt Picchetti, vice president and general manager, Navigation & Sensors, Honeywell Aerospace. “Vehicles like Nuuva V300 will change the way logistics companies fulfill package deliveries, and we’re proud to add our growing list of onboard technologies to enhance safety and make flying easier.”